Approximately 10 months ago, Tiarra and Jordan Krahn of Winkler welcomed their third child, a healthy baby boy.
What should have been a period of enjoying the addition to the family, however, transformed into a time of shock when they received some unfathomable news soon after.
In the wake of the discovery, the community will come together to offer support to a family on a time-sensitive journey.
A rare diagnosis
For Tiarra, it began with headaches and dizzy spells.
After the problem persisted, the young mother decided to visit a doctor, who ordered an MRI, according to Tiarra’s aunt, Tena Wall.
“That's where they found that she had a cyst and a tumour on her brain stem,” she said.
From the outset, the Winnipeg doctor realized that this particular case was an alarming one.
“She had never seen anything like that before,” said Wall.
Through testing, the Krahns were told that Tiarra has a tumour inside her spinal cord surrounded by cysts that stretch from her brain stem downward.
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It’s a situation that Annie Wiebe, another aunt of Tiarra’s, said only surgery can correct.
“No medication that she takes affects this tumour,” she said. “They have to take it out. That's the only option they have.”
Finding the most suitable individual to remove the tumour has proven to be a long process for the Krahn family.
Because of the unique nature of the case, the risks of the surgery to correct it, and the Winnipeg surgeon’s hesitation to complete surgery unlike any she had done before, the Krahns sought a second opinion from the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, where doctors were more familiar with cases like Tiarra’s.
Turned away
While Mayo Clinic had answers for the Krahns, the high cost of the procedure at the institution led the family to consider other options. The next stop in Tiarra’s journey was to be referred to a skilled surgeon in British Columbia.
Unfortunately, it was a dead end — due to the complexity of the operation, the surgeon declined the case.
With even fewer avenues, the Krahns have returned to the Mayo Clinic to receive the life-saving surgery.
A critical time
Although the Krahns have decided on the renowned institution for the procedure, the family is far from being through its journey.
Wiebe said time is of the essence for her niece.
“They did another MRI, and the tumour is growing, and because of the spot that it's at, they say that if she's not going to get the surgery done sooner rather than later, there could be things that will happen that will be [permanent],” she said.
After a few months of reprieve, Tiarra has been experiencing neck pain and headaches again, which is a sign that the tumour has begun to damage her spinal cord. Doctors say that the tingling in her hands will now be a lifelong condition because of the damage.
For Wiebe, it’s “scary” to watch the circumstances unfold.
“[She’s] such a young mom. You feel for the husband because he has these three little boys that he has to take care of,” she said, adding that fortunately, the support system surrounding the Krahns is extensive.
Waiting on surgery
As things proceed, the Krahns and their family are holding their breath for one date — August 12th.
This is the day on which Tiarra’s surgery has been scheduled.
“We just have to get through the surgery,” said Wiebe. “The doctor at Mayo [was] confident that the tumour is not sprouting, so ... it’s not poking into anything. It's a very clean cut, they said, which is very good news.”
An ‘intimidating’ number
The surgery offers much-desired hope to the Krahns, but the financial aspect is a barrier.
The total cost for the procedure is $270,000, and because there is a high chance that Tiarra will require therapy after the surgery, the family is preparing for an additional $5,000 to $10,000 a day afterwards.
The clinic doesn’t accept a payment plan, which makes things all the more difficult for the Krahns.
The scale of the total isn’t lost to Wiebe and Wall.
Wall said that her first reaction to hearing the number, knowing that her sister would “do anything” for her daughter, was the realization that Tiarra’s family would give up everything for her.
“It's kind of overwhelming to think that ... what they have worked for their whole life — I mean, it's wonderful that they would give that up for their daughter — but that life savings goes to one surgery,” she said. “It's overwhelming to think that it is that expensive to pay for one surgery.”
Love from the community
While the number is daunting, in recent months, the community has shown its support for Tiarra and her journey through her GoFundMe and a savings account at Access Credit Union, to which anyone can donate.
Tomorrow, the community will also gather for a fundraiser that will take place at Dusty Ridge Equine Centre, featuring hot dogs and hamburgers, a petting zoo, pony rides, tractor wagon and barrel rides, and an auction.
Auction prizes include tools, lawn and garden supplies, golf passes, cosmetics, and a hot tub, among other things.
“I'm so grateful for Dusty Ridge,” said Wall. “I called and I [shared] our situation ... and it was almost an instant yes.”
Attendance at the fundraiser in support of Tiarra Krahn’s life-saving surgery is by donation.
For Wall and Wiebe, the outpouring of support for the Krahns adds hope to an otherwise harrowing situation.
Wiebe said that she is “eternally grateful" for the monetary donations and auction prizes.
“It's unbelievable to see the unity and how we come together as a community when something happens,” added Wall.
Click here to support Tiarra and her family.
With files from Ty Hildebrand